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Pillow Hurting Your Ear? Pillows With an Ear Cutout

Side sleeping presses your ear flat against the pillow. Try the free tricks tonight, then use a pillow with an ear hole so the pressure goes away.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
10 min
Cost
$20-$50
Difficulty
Easy
A pillow with a round ear cutout in the center beside a plain pillow on a made bed
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Side sleeper? Check loft and the cutout
  9. Keeping it clean
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

Why does my pillow hurt my ear? When you sleep on your side, your whole head presses your ear flat against the pillow, and a firm, tall pillow or a piercing makes it worse. Try a softer pillow, a loose towel ring and flat earrings first. If the ache comes back every night, a pillow with an ear cutout takes the pressure off for good.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 10 minutes

Soften, shift and make a towel ring

  • Take out any earrings, or swap to flat-back studs for sleep
  • Roll a hand towel into a ring and put your ear in the hole
  • Try a thinner, softer pillow, or fluff the one you have
  • Switch sides or sleep on your back for part of the night

How long it lasts: A night or two, then it flattens or shifts. Works best for occasional soreness.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
Illustration

A pillow with an ear cutout

An ear hole or deep cutout lets your ear sit in a space instead of being pinched between your head and the pillow. Your head and neck keep their support, so you do not have to give up your side-sleeping position.

What to get: Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers

How long it lasts: Years. The hole is built in and holds its shape, so your ear rests free of pressure every night.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Hand towel

    Roll it into a ring around your ear

    Free

  • Flat-back earrings or no earrings

    Posts and clasps press into the ear at night

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
    Illustration

    Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers

    Take the pressure off while you keep your head supported

    Check price
  • Donut-style ear cushion (illustration)
    Illustration

    Donut-style ear cushion

    A small, low-cost way to try the idea

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Side sleeping with a firm, tall pillow

When you lie on your side, your head weighs on your ear. A hard pillow does not give, so the ear bends and the cartilage takes the load.

2

Earrings, studs and piercings

Posts, clasps and backs press into the ear. A healing piercing, especially in cartilage, hurts much more when you lie on it.

3

A folded ear or a rough pillowcase

The ear can fold forward when your head sinks in, and seams, zippers or rough fabric add to the pressure.

4

A skin or ear problem

A tender spot that does not go away may be something more than pressure, such as a skin bump on the rim of the ear or an infection. A doctor can tell.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Take out earrings and check for a sore spot

    Tool used: Flat-back earrings or no earrings

    Remove earrings before bed, or switch to flat-back studs made for sleeping. Look at the ear in a mirror for redness, swelling or a small sore on the rim.

  2. Make a towel ring

    Tool used: Hand towel

    Roll a hand towel into a firm tube, bend it into a ring and put it on the pillow. Place your ear in the hole and check that your head and neck stay in line.

  3. Try a softer or thinner pillow

    A very firm pillow pushes harder on your ear. Fluff it, remove some fill if it has a zipper or try a softer one for a night. Aim to keep your head level with your spine.

  4. Change your sleep position for part of the night

    Start on your back, then switch sides, so the same ear is not pinned all night. A small pillow behind you can stop you rolling flat onto your back.

  5. Switch to a pillow with an ear hole

    Tool used: Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers

    If the towel ring helps but keeps slipping, that is the sign you need the real thing. A cutout pillow keeps the space in the same spot all night.

    Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers · Take the pressure off while you keep your head supported

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

A towel ring moves as you sleep, and a softer pillow can sink too far and leave your neck sore. If your ear still aches most mornings, a cutout pillow is the easiest next step, because the hole never slides away. See a doctor if the ear is red, swollen, warm or draining, if there is a painful bump or sore on the rim that does not heal, if the pain comes with fever or hearing loss, or if a new piercing is hot and sore. Those are not pressure problems, and a pillow will not fix them.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
Illustration
Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers
pressure and pain on the ear from side sleeping Side sleepers with ear pain, a healing piercing or a tender ear, and people who wake up with a flat, sore ear. Check price
Budget pick
Donut-style ear cushion (illustration)
Illustration
Donut-style ear cushion
mild ear pressure on a tight budget Anyone who wants to try an ear hole first, or who travels and needs something small. Check price
Best pick
Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
Illustration

Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers

Fixes: pressure and pain on the ear from side sleeping

Look for: A cutout or hole that is big enough to hold your whole ear; Soft, supportive foam that holds a hole shape; A loft that fills the gap between your ear and shoulder; A removable, washable cover.

Who it's for
Side sleepers with ear pain, a healing piercing or a tender ear, and people who wake up with a flat, sore ear.
Honest downside
You sleep mostly on your back or stomach, since a cutout pillow adds little for those positions. Check the size too, because one that is too big or too small will not help.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Donut-style ear cushion (illustration)
Illustration

Donut-style ear cushion

Fixes: mild ear pressure on a tight budget

Look for: A hole sized for an ear; A thin, soft shape that sits on top of your pillow; A washable cover.

Who it's for
Anyone who wants to try an ear hole first, or who travels and needs something small.
Honest downside
You want something that sits steady under your head. A loose cushion can slip off during the night.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on sleep-position guidance, general ear and piercing aftercare advice, and what owners report in reviews of ear-hole pillows. We do not test products by hand.

Side sleeper? Check loft and the cutout

A cutout pillow still needs to fill the gap between your ear and your shoulder. If the pillow is too low, your neck bends toward the mattress, and if it is too high, it pushes your head up. Choose one with a loft that suits your shoulder width, and make sure the hole sits where your ear lands.

Keeping it clean

Ears and piercings touch the pillow all night, so wash the cover and pillowcase weekly if you have a piercing that is still healing. Follow the care label for the pillow itself.

What to skip

Sleeping with a thick, firm pillow stacked on another

Stacking pillows raises your head and pushes your ear harder into the top one, and a tall stack bends your neck. Take the pressure off the ear itself instead.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my ear hurt when I lie on a pillow?
Your head presses your ear flat against the pillow, and a firm pillow does not give. Cartilage piercings, earrings and a folded ear add to it. If the pain stays after you wake, or the ear looks red or swollen, check with a doctor.
What pillow is best for ear pain?
A pillow with an ear hole or cutout for side sleepers, or a soft pillow that lets your ear sink in. Look for a loft that keeps your head level, so your neck is not bent.
How do I sleep with a new ear piercing?
Avoid lying on it, wear a flat-back stud and put a clean donut-style cushion or ear-hole pillow under your head. Change the pillowcase often. If the piercing is hot, swollen or oozing, ask your piercer or a doctor.
Why is my ear sore in the morning but not in the day?
That points to pressure while you sleep, not an injury. Lighten the pressure with a softer pillow or an ear hole. If it hurts during the day too, see a doctor.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Pillow with an ear hole for side sleepers

Check price